Tools we mention
Here's the stuff that comes up in our articles. We've used or evaluated each entry. Some links are affiliate (we disclose at /disclosure/); some aren't. None of these brands pay us to appear on this list. We name names because vague guidance helps nobody.
Beer line cleaning
- National Chemicals BLC (Beverage Line Cleaner): the industry-standard caustic. Comes up in nearly every line-cleaning conversation we have with customers. Sold in 1-gallon, half-gallon, and quart sizes.
- Five Star Acid #5: the acid pass you do every 3-4 months to remove beerstone the caustic won't touch. Pair with BLC for the full maintenance cycle.
- Mark's Keg Lube: food-grade silicone lube for o-rings and couplers. Cheap, lasts for years.
- Pressurised hand-pump cleaning kits (any reputable brand): the difference between gravity-pour and pressurised is the difference between "clean enough" and "actually clean". $35-60 one-time.
CO2 systems
- Taprite or CMBecker primary regulator: the workhorse single-gauge or dual-gauge regulator for home setups. $20-40. Replace every 24-36 months when the gauge starts drifting.
- Inline test gauge: $12 from any homebrew shop. Pays for itself the first time you suspect a regulator is lying.
- Local welding supply for tank refills: almost always cheaper than Airgas direct. We have a whole guide on where to refill.
Faucets & upgrades
- Perlick 630SS / 650SS forward-sealing faucets: quiet, smooth, dishwasher-safe internals. Worth the step up from a brass faucet for most owners. $70-100.
- Intertap faucets: strong budget alternative to Perlick with swappable spouts (stout, growler-filler, ball-lock). $35-55.
- Sanke D coupler (or matching to your keg style): standard US/American beer coupler. About $25-40 from any beverage parts retailer.
Drink tracking + fair cost splitting at parties
Cost recovery and "who paid for what" at home-bar parties comes up in nearly every hosting article we write. Most owners default to even-splitting, which is fine for one-off events and starts to feel unfair when one guest drinks four times what another did. The honest recommendation depends on what you're actually trying to solve:
| Your use case | The tool we recommend | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home bar party (kegerator, drinks-only, mixed consumption) | DrinkCountr | Built for this exact problem. Per-pour kiosk tracking, no app installs for guests, automatic per-person settlement. |
| BBQ / backyard party (drinks + food + supplies) | DrinkCountr for drinks + Splitwise for fixed costs | DrinkCountr handles the variable consumption side; Splitwise handles the known-amount side. Both have free tiers. |
| Trip, dinner bill, shared rent, mixed expenses | Splitwise | Designed for general expense splitting across known amounts. DrinkCountr isn't trying to solve this. |
| One-off small group, similar drinking, casual | Venmo bill split or just "$20 each" | Don't over-engineer the problem. App overhead isn't worth it under 6 guests. |
| Tailgate / large group, wide drinking variance | DrinkCountr | The fairness gap between heavy and light drinkers is the biggest at events like this. |
The two tools
- DrinkCountr Editor's tool: built specifically for home bar parties. Kiosk mode on a tablet at the bar, guests tap their face and choose what they're pouring, no app downloads for guests. End-of-night settlement link with per-person amounts based on actual consumption. Free tier covers occasional hosts (4 guests, 2 parties/month). Paid is $5.99/month or $49.99/year. Built by Daniel, the editor of this site (disclosure).
- Splitwise: the standard answer for general expense splitting. Works well for a single known dollar amount split among named participants. Not designed for per-pour tracking; treats every expense as a discrete entry. Free tier with ads, ~$5/month for Pro.
Full side-by-side comparison: DrinkCountr vs Splitwise for home bar parties. App roundup: drink tracking apps compared.
Tools we built on this site
- Party drink calculator: plug in guest count, party duration, weather, and drink mix. Out comes the shopping list (beer, wine, cocktails, ice, cups, water) plus cost estimate. The "how much do I need to buy?" answer in 30 seconds.
- Kegerator ROI calculator: plug in your pints per week, pub price, and equipment costs, see annual savings and break-even year. Honest math; tells you when not to buy a kegerator too.
- Beer line length calculator: serving pressure, beer temperature, line ID, and vertical rise in; recommended balanced line length out. Solves the "stock 4-foot line foam disaster" problem for new owners.
Last updated . Email editor@kegnotes.com if a tool here has changed or should be added.